Everyone goes through one form of trauma or the other. The intensity and type differ, but the pain remains the same. It is easy to get lost in the vicious cycle of despair and depression, so strive to get out of it. Let us begin by understanding what birth trauma is and how it paves the way to PTSD.

What are Birth Trauma and PTSD?

Birth trauma involves physical, emotional, and psychological anguish for a mother during childbirth. It may be caused by long labor, medical concerns, unexpected results, losing control, worrying about the baby, or feeling overwhelmed. Flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, melancholy, shame, embarrassment, issues connecting with the baby, and a bad delivery image might result from birth trauma.

Post-stressful Stress Disorder, or PTSD, can result from a traumatic incident like a natural disaster or a life-threatening condition. If birth trauma makes a person feel terrified, helpless, or appalled, it might cause PTSD. People with PTSD may experience flashbacks, avoid items that remind them of the incident, have negative mood and mental changes, and be more alert or reactive. PTSD without therapy can severely impact everyday living and quality of life.

Symptoms of Birth Trauma

Symptoms of birth trauma can vary widely among individuals and may manifest differently depending on the severity of the experience and the coping mechanisms of the person affected. Here are some common symptoms associated with birth trauma:

Flashbacks and Intrusive Memories

Intense, uncontrolled recollections of the traumatic birth can strike at any time and make the individual feel like it's happening again. These bad memories might return in nightmares or while you're awake, creating tension and emotional anguish. Flashbacks may bring back distressing noises, images, and scents, making the re-experiencing greater. Something as simple as a fragrance or a medical procedure might elicit severe flashbacks that disrupt everyday living and worsen anxiety.

Nightmares

Traumatized birth survivors typically have detailed, unpleasant dreams about their birth. These dreams may occur frequently, making it hard to sleep and making you feel more helpless and terrified. Dreams concerning stressful events sometimes entail medical issues, losing control, or worrying about the baby's safety. These nightmares may make you unhappy and make it hard to fall asleep. Because they fear these nightmares, people may suffer insomnia or other sleep issues, which can harm their health.

Avoidance Behaviors

Avoiding items that remind you of the difficult delivery might worsen your trauma symptoms. Avoidance helps with these sentiments. Avoiding delivery, medical settings, and healthcare providers may lead to not getting pregnant again out of fear of the trauma. Avoidance may help individuals feel better briefly, but it can also make them feel more alone and impede the healing process by preventing them from addressing and processing the anguish that triggered their symptoms.

Hyperarousal

Hyperarousal increases physiological and psychological awareness, making people more sensitive to risks and causing overreactions to stress. Hyperactive people may always be on guard and easily surprised, even when there is no threat. High attention can cause irritability, anxiety, and difficulty focusing, making it hard to relax or accomplish typical tasks.

Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Birth trauma often causes anxiety and panic attacks. It is characterized by continuous anxiety, concern, and apprehension, generally associated to a difficult delivery. These sentiments may manifest as broad concerns or particular fears about giving birth, medical procedures, or newborn health risks.

Depression

Chronic depression, despair, and grief can impair everyday functioning and quality of life in birth trauma survivors. Giving birth can make a mother feel guilty, humiliated, or inadequate, which can worsen depression and make recovery harder. Hormonal changes, insomnia, and baby care stress all worsen postpartum depression. Hunger, insomnia, fatigue, irritability, and loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities are all indicators of depression. Mental health professionals like therapists and psychiatrists are essential for accurate diagnosis and individualized therapy.

Postpartum Bonding Difficulties

Birth stress and can make parents feel distant, detached, or ambivalent about their new baby. A parent may struggle to build a secure attachment relationship with their kid after a difficult delivery. This can impair parent and child health and mental development. Guilt or shame about not bonding with their infant can worsen feelings and make recovery harder.

Physical Symptoms

Physical symptoms that might result from birth trauma or emotional anguish. Birth trauma survivors commonly report chronic pain, headaches, stomach issues, muscular stiffness, and fatigue. Stress, worry, and depression can worsen these symptoms, affecting your health and quality of life. Birth trauma has physical and mental impacts that must be addressed.

How To Get Over Birth Trauma and PTSD?

Experiencing birth trauma and subsequently developing PTSD can be incredibly challenging, but there are steps you can take to cope and heal. It's important to seek professional help and support from loved ones during this time. Here are some suggestions:

Join support groups

Meeting others who have gone through the same might make you feel understood, validated, and included. Online and in-person support groups let you tell your experience, express your feelings, and find comfort from others who have been there. Hearing about others' challenges and accomplishments might inspire your own recovery. Support groups can provide knowledge, resources, and solutions to others' difficulties.

Practice self-care

Self-care involves intentionally feeding and refreshing your physical, social, and emotional wellness. Self-care plans can help you relax, decrease stress, and manage your emotions while dealing with PTSD and birth trauma. Spend time in nature, practice mindfulness, or create art or music to make you joyful. Eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep can make you healthier and stronger. Limiting time and energy protects mental resources and prevents fatigue.

Educate yourself

Understanding PTSD, trauma, and the physical and mental impacts of giving birth will help you understand your experience and feelings. Learning about PTSD will help you recognize symptoms like flashbacks, hypervigilance, and avoiding situations. Learn how stress affects the brain and body to feel less shame or self-blame over your reaction.

Communicate with your healthcare provider

Consult a doctor. The doctor can help you recover from birth trauma and PTSD. When you openly discuss your thoughts, anxieties, and symptoms with your physician, they may offer specialized support, guidance, and resources. Even if you feel uneasy, share your experiences. Your provider can advise you on therapy, medicine, and alternative healing methods. Create a holistic care plan with your healthcare team to address your emotional, social, and physical needs.

Involve your partner or support system

Consult your partner, family, friends, or trusted persons for mental support. Tell your family about your ideas, feelings, and desires so they can affirm and aid you. Sharing your triggers, limitations, and coping methods with your support network will help them understand and care for you. You may equip your spouse and loved ones to aid you by learning about PTSD and birth trauma.

Seek Help

Therapy allows you to process your thoughts, feelings, and actions without judgment. Trauma-focused therapists can help you process birth-related emotions. CBT, EMDR, and mindfulness can help you manage PTSD symptoms. Therapy lets you confront faulty beliefs or distorted thinking that may be worsening your issues. If you are looking for a great place to start your journey to recovery, we suggest you give Zivanza a try.